1st Trip to White Clay Creek, Newark, DE

So I drove down the New Jersey Turnpike for 45 minutes or so, and I found myself at White Clay Creek in Newark, Delaware. I was supposed to go a few weeks ago, but I was sick and couldn't make it. Well, I made it down this past Saturday, and I must say, this is a fine place to ride! I printed Ken Cox' map earlier in the day, and wouldn't you know, I forgot to pack it. Fortunately, the trails are well marked and the place is fairly easy to navigate.

I did the Lenape Trail, Bryan's Field Trail, the skills trail, the Earth Day Trail, and one other which I can't recall. I was thoroughly impressed with the skills trail. I've seen several photos of the skills trail on various forums, and I always thought that it looked rather "simple." Well, this was the first time I rode any type of stunt or obstacle, and I have a new found respect for those northshore riders. This is not as easy as it looks. To be honest, I think the mental portion of it is the toughest to overcome. Riding it wasn't extremely difficult, although I had some trouble on the skinnies next to the suspension bridge. I walked through the skills trail the first time just to see what was there, etc... I was kinda sketchy about the suspension bridge, so I opted for the skinnies on the left. I nearly endo'd on the first teeter, just before the suspension bridge. It seems like it is missing 1 plank or something. I hit it twice, and it happened each time. I dunno...maybe I'm just hitting it wrong??? Overall, the skills trails was really nice, and I can't wait to hit it again.

I rode for about 2 1/2 hours, until it starting getting dark. Ran into quite a few friendly people as well. I had a great experience here and can't wait to hit it up again to explore everything I missed.

Glad you had a good time. I went Saturday with 5 other guys from my car club. We hit Middle Run and Judge Morris area. Definietly heading back. Maybe in 2 weeks. Took it easy since it has been several years since I've been out.

10 minutes further down 273 and you can hit Fairhill. huge park and great trails. you need to be real careful around the horses, and there really aren't any "skills" trails, but you can ride there for hours without repeating any loops (if you're into that sort of thing). real special place.

White Clay/Middle Run has been one of my favorite rides in all my years riding.Rutkiller glad you had a good time.I think you and a few other guys from my area have been posting about Ceres Park in Mantua.Once i recover from my surgery we'll have to see if we can all get a big group ride going.By the way,what bike is that in the photos?

White Clay/Middle Run is a great place to ride. I can take both my rigid SS and my FS geared bike out and each is a great ride. If you're interested in helping with trail building etc, drop a line to the Delaware Trail Spinners at www.trailspinners.org. Join the Yahoo group to hear about meetings, trail building sessions and organized group rides (a great way to learn the park).

White Clay/Middle Run has been one of my favorite rides in all my years riding.Rutkiller glad you had a good time.I think you and a few other guys from my area have been posting about Ceres Park in Mantua.Once i recover from my surgery we'll have to see if we can all get a big group ride going.By the way,what bike is that in the photos?

Yeah Carn, that's me posting about Cere's Park. I know Cere's isn't quite as big, but with a little work, I think it can be quite a place. Now that the weather is finally starting to get cooler, I typically turn my attention to snowboarding, but I'm definitely up for some building and riding back there after the short winter season.
BTW...the bike is a Jamis Dakar...

I believe this place attracts a fair amount of people. As I said, I started my ride around 4:00 pm or so and ran into about a dozen people. I believe there are organized group rides on Saturday mornings and/or early afternoons, so I would imagine there are some good crowds there.

Although it can get somewhat busy, the place seems large enough where you don't notice the number of people there....I don't think it would ever feel crowded.

Try parking at The Judge Morris lot on Polly Drumond rd. It's the southeastern most part of it all and is a pretty
basic loop with a cutoff trail around the middle. Take note of how many cars are in the lot and be alert for alot of hikers.

The Judge Morris loop is about the worst trail in White Clay Creek SP for a beginner. It has the most roots, rocks, off-camber turns, sharp turns, and the most hikers.

Much better for a beginner is the John Bryan loop. If you find that easy, add on the Whitely Farms loop. Check out the map available at the previously mentioned link for parking and trail locations.

TS

I've never thought of the Judge loop that way. As far as I can tell there is roots, rocks,
sharp turns and hikers EVERYWHERE in White Clay. JM the most roots, rocks, sharp turns in White CLay???? I don't think so........ BUT, Parking at Bryan's Field off of 72 is also a good option.

Yeah Carn, that's me posting about Cere's Park. I know Cere's isn't quite as big, but with a little work, I think it can be quite a place. Now that the weather is finally starting to get cooler, I typically turn my attention to snowboarding, but I'm definitely up for some building and riding back there after the short winter season.
BTW...the bike is a Jamis Dakar...

I agree,about 15 yrs ago when i first started going back there it was starting to be built up then.Then people kinda of backed off a little.I hear the whole winter sport thing coming up.Hopefully i'll beable to ski this season. I had the same Dakar,color and all.I loved it.I just sold it and bought a 08' Jamis XAM 1.0

I did one loop of the Bryan's field trail (2nd time there) then I tried the skills trail for the first time yesterday (11/8) and couldnt do about 95% of it (I'm still a beginner) Pretty fun but definitely much harder than it looks...I remember looking at the large teeter-totter and saying no way am I going to try this...Good thing thing you can bypass the stuff that is too technical

***Trail Condition Update***
I rode White Clay yesterday 5/22 around 3pm (Whitly Farms & David English trails) and it wasnt bad at all...a few spots were a little muddy on both trails but you could manuever around them.98% of the trails were in excellent condition..I guess you could say the wind did a great job of drying them out...Have fun & stay safe

I am soooooo stoked that there is some real riding in DE (I was obviously ignorant; most of the shops in the state are dedicated to road biking).....and even more excited that there are some shore stunts and features to play on. How is the rest of the area for riding ?

***Update***
Me & a friend just finished riding Whitly Farms trail at White Clay and was pleasantly surprised by the new section of trail probably made & designed by the DE Trailspinners but I'm not sure.I can tell you this though,It looked like alot of people busted their a$$ to make this new section,much kudos to whomever made it & helped out,me & my friends certainly appreciate it....
We rode the whole trail clockwise (as most people do) starting at the parking lot near the house & barn.I believe the new section is actually meant to be ridden counter clockwise as this would be slightly downhill & much more fun,kinda remind me of the slick & twisty trails in middle run,Has anyone tried this yet & what do you think ?? Thanks...

If you mean the skinny log crossing, yea I usually cross it although it is a little hairy. I can usually make it across easily except for the other day I only made it just over halfway and couldn't hold it. It wasn't too bad. The thing I always try to remember is to jump off the bike and don't worry about saving the bike. I Let the bike fall and worry about where and how I'm going to land. I don't clip in for this very reason.

The log stacks were built to "replace" a sweet section of trail that was removed called the Crazy 9 trails. Crazy 8 had a lot of log stacks, but they were all built over downed trees and flowed really well. Call me bitter, but ""logzilla" (the log trail pictured) has nothing on crazy 8's. I would rather just have trail in the spot than those ugly, unnatural log piles.

The log stacks were built to "replace" a sweet section of trail that was removed called the Crazy 9 trails. Crazy 8 had a lot of log stacks, but they were all built over downed trees and flowed really well. Call me bitter, but ""logzilla" (the log trail pictured) has nothing on crazy 8's. I would rather just have trail in the spot than those ugly, unnatural log piles.

I wasnt riding there when they had those Crazy 8/9 trails...I agree though...having smaller logs built to go over larger downed trees would be sweet...I still enjoy logzilla as it is something different to ride or try...I'm really surprised the club hasnt built a skills section similiar to Bryan's Field over at Middle Run..

Long Wall Trail

It's on a section of the Long Wall Trail. Coming from the Jewish Community Center off of Garden of Eden Road. Enter the park on the double track, take the second trail on the left, down a short shoot and accross a nice, short rock garden and it's a little bit up the hill from there. Continue on that trail and take the second taril on the right for some fun/techy rocks and more rocks. After that is the rest of the Long Wall with the smooth gravel dowsnhill sweeping turning fun-ness. -XCBob

It's on a section of the Long Wall Trail. Coming from the Jewish Community Center off of Garden of Eden Road. Enter the park on the double track, take the second trail on the left, down a short shoot and accross a nice, short rock garden and it's a little bit up the hill from there. Continue on that trail and take the second taril on the right for some fun/techy rocks and more rocks. After that is the rest of the Long Wall with the smooth gravel dowsnhill sweeping turning fun-ness. -XCBob

it's gonna be a lot easier if you park on Garden of Eden Rd - but if you insist on the hotels:

from the main entrance in the back lot.

1. down the hill toward the woods (away from 202)
2. enter woods and stay to the left - follow trail until you hit the water crossing - cross over
3. trail goes along the stream then veers left up a BIG hill - lots of rocks, leaves, etc
4. you are now on the BLUE trail - there are a few small signs
5. after the hill there are a few trails to the left - you want to stay right but its obvious its the main trail
6. come to a T intersection and take a right (this is a main and obvious trail)
7. take your 2nd left - down a small hill - over a small rock garden and VOILA!!

alternate way - rebels only

1. down hill toward woods (away from 202)
2. enter woods and take your first right - down the hill and cross the stream
3. follow trail to the left
4. come up on stream again and stay on the right side of the water -go up small hill
5. pretend not to see the no bikes sign
6. down the hill to the fire road(thompsons bridge parking lot is to the right - small bridge to your left.
7. cross small bridge and take trail to your immediate left
8. stay to the right through the woods and start up long rocky climb
9. take 2nd right (1rst is labeled no bikes and doesnt go where you want)
10. down small hill - over small rock garden and VOILA!!

After all the good press these trails have gotten, I made the trek north from Baltimore and hit them up this afternoon. I must say I was impressed. I didnt make it to all the trails but I hit up Whitley something, Bryans Field, and two others off of that whitley one. Whitley and Bryans I rode multiple times in both directions and I rode the skills trail 3 or 4 times. From what I rode, these trails arent really technical at all, but they are fun as hell and maintained awesomely, I dont know what others are talking about, but I didnt hit any roots, rocks, (or any real climbs or straight DH sections either). But these trails are straight up tight, fast, twisty singletrack. The whole frickin place is like a huge pump track. If you know how to pump well, and have at least some DH skill in order to rail the turns you can absolutely fly down these trails. I rode for 4 hours straight and had an absolute blast. Whoever designs and maintains these trails deserves a huge kudos. If places like Patapsco could develop nice flowy sections like these to complement the climbs and DH parts, that would be paradise. The skills trail could be a bit longer, though. I just get into a rhythm and its over. But seriously, this place rocks. Ill be back again.

These trails are straight up tight, fast, twisty singletrack. The whole frickin place is like a huge pump track. If you know how to pump well, and have at least some DH skill in order to rail the turns you can absolutely fly down these trails. I rode for 4 hours straight and had an absolute blast.

If you loved flying on the White Clay trails...It will seem like youre on nitrous if you try middle run

Went there today with a couple buddies...had a great time, weather was pretty good for riding too...I just love it there with all the little jumps in the "pump tracks" and the skills park is a blast...saw a guy do an endo just after coming off the teeter...he was fine, but it looked very cool.. I think my friends had a good time...Eujinc did the skinny across the culvert and Jason will have his video posted soon I hope...his first try he bailed part way into it...fortunately he dumped it towards the bank instead of the left deep side...whew...very cool though he "maned" up and did it again and cleaned it!! Way to go...I made it last week so my first try today I cleared it..gets easy when you make it... Some of the wood bridges were a bit slippery in places, but it wasn't to wet today, just barely in a few spots...lots of leaves though!!!

Thanks for taking the pics, Ed. Had a great time there yesterday. I like this one that you took of me realizing I was in trouble and unclipping seconds before falling off. LOL! Good this it was a soft landing. The thing about that log skinny was it was more of a mental challenge than a physical one. If it was 6 inches off the ground most people would've done it without thinking twice but at almost 6 ft off the ground, it is very intimidating.

Here are the photos from my camera. I'll upload the video clips tonight after I have a chance to edit them a little:

Mental is right!!

Originally Posted by eujinc

Thanks for taking the pics, Ed. Had a great time there yesterday. I like this one that you took of me realizing I was in trouble and unclipping seconds before falling off. LOL! Good this it was a soft landing. The thing about that log skinny was it was more of a mental challenge than a physical one. If it was 6 inches off the ground most people would've done it without thinking twice but at almost 6 ft off the ground, it is very intimidating.

Here are the photos from my camera. I'll upload the video clips tonight after I have a chance to edit them a little: